Interchangeable hat construction



Sept. 24, 1946. A. JOSEPHS INTERCHANGEABLE HAT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 2l, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR.

Sept. 24, '1946.

A. 1. JOSEPHS INTERCHANGEABLE HAT CQNSTRUCTION Filed July 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY The main band H is of annular shape and may be made of any suitable material having the desired stiffness with some flexibility. Covered buckram, or straw or fiber webbing may be used. Additional strength and shape holding properties may be obtained by the useof spiralstitching (not shown) well known in this art.

Secured about the lower horizontal edge of the main band I! in any suitable manner, as for example by the row of stitches 32 is the auxiliary band |B having a cushioning inner portion 33 and an outer portion 34. Thus, as best seen in the sectional view in Figure 8 the auxiliary band I8 is U shape in cross section with the outer leg (the outer portion 34) being taller.

The outer portion 34 rearwardly of the visor 25 is provided with an outwardly extending flange, bead or rib 35 which is peripherally disposed.

The rib 35 furnishes vertical support to the lower edges of the retainer band 30 and the decorative band thereabove. In the area above the visor some vertical support is given to the lower edges of the retainer band and the decorative band 20 by the upper portion of the vistor.

The auxiliary band I8 is preferably composed of soft felt or heavy loosely woven flannel. The

upper edge ofthe outer portion 34 may be further secured in place by the row, of stitches 36 joining said portion to the main band H. The rib may be formed by sharply bendingor folding the lower part of said outer portion andsecuring the bend or fold so formed by a row of stitches '31.

The sweat band l9 may be of the usual type, an annular band of leather or other absorbent material and is secured at the lower edge 38 thereof to the inner portion of the bottom fold of the auxiliary band l8, by a row of stitches 39. The sweat band l3 not only performs its ordinary function but also protects the head of the wearer from contacting the nuts on the inner ends of the connector means l4, l5, and I6.

Disposed forwardly of the main band I! above the upper edge of the outer band portion 34 and secured to the upper portion of said band r in any suitable manner as for example by means of the hollow rivets 40 and 4| is the frontal support member. This support member 22 is preferably composed of relatively stiff but flexible material and while shown as being of a single layer of planar material, it may be laminated. The parts are not so rigid but that-they are movable and the frontal support member is maintained in proper operative position by the ring I3 as will more fully appear hereinbelow. Furthervided with additional stays. or stiffeners (not shown). The upper edge 42 of the member 22 is curved to conform to the shape of the juncture 44 of the top wall 26'and' the front and rear walls 21-29 when the parts are in engaged position or fully set up. The edge 42 may be bound with tape 43 to prevent the relatively sharp edge more the frontal support member may be proof the member 22 from damagingthe crown at the said juncture.

The frontal support member 22 at the upper edge 42, centrally thereof, is provided with the stretcher ring detachably engaging means 23 which may take the form of a hook.

Forwardly of the lowermost portion of the frontal support member 22 and the portion 34 of the auxiliary band l8 thereat is the reinforcing strip 2| which is suitably connected to the main band IT, for example by'the rivets 45 and46.'

The decorative outer band 20 is an annular band and may be composed of any suitably decorative material, for example, it may be composed of flat braid. The decorative strap 24 may be made of leather, metallic braid or webbing. Both the band Hand the band 20 and the strap 24 are provided with orifices positioned to coincide with the position of the connector means I4 and I5 when said band and strap are in proper place upon the cap H). In the case of the band 20 these orifices are substantially diametrically disposed in the opposed side portions thereof -while in the strap they are located substantially at the terminals thereof. The band 20 is also provided with an orifice in the upper central .front portion thereof which is adapted to be penetrated by the connector means |6 as will appear below.

The crown is preferably composed of a suitable planar material such as woven-cloth and the top wall may be secured to the inwardly and downwardly converging front wall 21 and rear quarter walls 28 and 29 by suitable stitching along the juncture 44. The side edges of the front Wall v2! and the rear quarter walls 28 and 29 are interconnected along the seams 41, 48, and 49, while the lower edges of these walls are connected by an annular row of stitches to the upper edge. of the retainerband 30. While not shown for the purpose of clarityin the drawings, exposed edge seams may be taped in a well known manner, and the lower edge of .theband 3 may have a double hem to slightly stiffen and reinforcethe same. The band 3llis provided with two substantially diametrically disposed orifices in the opposed side portions thereof, and with another orifice in the upper central front portion thereof all to .coincide withthe correspondingly positioned orifices in the band 20.

The inner surface of the top wall 26 has positioned directly therebelow and preferably arranged longitudinally of the cap Ill, the sweatproof and identification means carrier 3|. The carrier 3| is preferably in the form of a piece of cloth of the same material as that of which the wall 26 is composed so as to have the same washing and cleaning characteristics and has spaced and parallel longitudinal edges and rounded ends which are caught in with the seam which forms the juncture 44. The carrier 3| is provided with front and rear pockets 5| and 52 which may be formed by stitching two pieces of material to the carrier 3| onlyabout three of the edges thereof leavin the inwardly and oppositely disposed edges free.

I The sweatproof andidentification' means 53 includes. a base plate 54 and a transparent plate 55. which is secured to the baseplate along the substantially rectilinear rows of stitching 56 to 6.! inclusive. Th .base plate 54 within the area definedby the stitches 56, 51, 59 and. 60 may have imprinted thereon any suitable. indicia 62 which maytake the form of a trademark which is thus protectedby. the transparent plate thereover. The transparent plate within the area defined by the stitches "5'1 BB-and -'6 forms a'po'cketlM within which may be removably inserted-the identification card 63 whichmay carrythe 'own ersname-ancl/or number. The card 63 is frictionally retained in the pocket 64. Either the base plate 54 or the 'transparentplate55 is'composed of resilient material and both of said plates are flexible. The'length of the means '53 is substantially equal to or slightly less than the distance between the inner ends of the pockets 5| and '52. This'permits the means 53 to be detachablyengageable within said pockets by flexing the means53 as it is inserted or removed, so as to alter the effective length thereof;

"The connector "means |4, I5, and Hi maybe formed of screw stemswith a head on the outer end and a sleeve nut on the inner end of each. The heads on the means I4 and f|5-may be in the form of decorative buttons carrying insignia thereon, while the head of the means l6 may'be integrated with the lower rear portion of the emblem 65. The main band I! and 'the'auxiliary band H! are provided with oppositely disposed Orificesrto permit passage therethrough of the central portions of the connector means l4 and I5; while the main band 11, the frontal support member 22and the reinforcin strip areprovided with aligned orifices to permit passage of the'central portion of the connector means I8.

The crown stretcher ring |'3 .is an annular preferably metallic device. It may be composed of flat strip springsteeLand this may be covered for protectionandappearance. Its effective diameter is such that when it is in position in the larger'top portion of the crown it exerts a constant radially outward pressure.

The removal, cleaningqand replacement of the crown I2 is a relatively quick and easy'matter. One method, by way of illustration is here given: Assuming the cap to be fully assembled as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 8, to remove the crown l2, first the ring I3 is manually undulated to temporarily reduce its effective diameter and" it is snapped out of the cap H] by pulling it downwardly as viewed-in Figure 4,0ut of engagement with the hook 23. The crown now becomes limp. The sweat band is now pulled down through 180 and the nuts on the connector means |4, I5 and I6 are removed. Next the means l4, l5, and I6 are pulled out clear of the cap lfl. The retainer band 30 now being only lightly frictionally engaged between the main band H, the outer portion 34 and the strip 2| on one side and the outer band 20 on the other, is easily pulled away from the frame Flexure of the sweatproof and identification means 53 permits its quick removal from the pockets 5| and 52. The'crown may now be laundered and the ring I3 is inserted therein to shape it while drying.

After drying, the ring I3 is removed, and the crown 2 is replaced to its original position on the frame. The retainer band 3!! is either tucked in, inwardly of the decorative outer band 2!! or the band 20 may be removed and then replaced. The

various orifices in the parts are now adjusted for realignment to their original positions and the connector means Id, l5, and I6 are replaced and screwed tight. Lastly the means 53 is replaced into the carrier 3| and the ring i3 is corrugated between the users fingers, engaged with the hook 23 and snapped into place substantially along the inner surface of the crown at the juncture 44. The ring l3 not only keeps the top wall 25 taut but also maintains the frontal support 22 in its proper angularly elevated position, thereby keepis desired to compa'ctly stow the frame, the frontal support member may be bent down to a position within the main or sweat bands. that isiwithin the annulusthereof. When the'cap frameissub sequent-1y set up, the ring 66 properly places and positions the support member '22 and the other parts as Well.

Thus the frontal support member '22, when the hat 'is collapsed for stowing or shipping,

may take the position indicated by the dot-dash lines on Figure 4.

Turning now to the second'embodiment of'the invention shown in FiguresQ and 10, it will be seen thatthisdiffers fromthe first embodiment principally in the construction of the crown, stretcher ring, sweatproof and identification means carrier, and the sweatproof and identification means. For the purpose of avoiding needless repetition, some of the parts corresponding to the first embodiment are given the same reference characters with a single prime suifix.

Thus in the second embodimentthe carrier 3 is-connected to the ring l3 instead of the crown |'2'. The annular crown stretcher-ring l3" has secured thereto-at the forward portion 61' and the rear portion 68"thereof a sweatproof and identification means carrier 3|. The carrier may be in the form of a ribbon with longitudinal selvage edges, composed of Waterproof material the ends of which are lapped about the portions 61 and 58 and secured by the stitches 10 and H. The ribbon may be double folded and stitched by the U shaped rows of stitches l2 and T3 (the open portions of the U shaped rows being juxtaposed) to form the pockets 5| and 52'. The indicia 62' such as the trade-mark of the manufacturer of the hat may be imprinted. using waterproof ink on the body of the ribbon forming the carrier 3|. This is so that the indicia 62 will not be deleteriously affected when the ring I3 is subsequently used to shape the crown I2 while drying after washing. The sweatproof and identification means 53' preferably consists of a sheet of waterproof, flexible, resilient, and transparent material upon the upper surface of which is written in waterproof ink the name and/or number of the wearer. The means 53 or 53 serves to prevent the passage of hair oil or perspiration therethrough to the crown. When'the sheet 55 is composed of cellulose acetate, the ink may be a soluble dye or a pigment in a thin solution of cellulose acetate in acetone.

The forward portion of the carrier 3| is pro- Vided with an indentation 16' which facilitates the proper positioning of the combination ring and carrier structure 15 with relation to the hat l9; enables the hook 23 to engage the portion 59' of the ring I3 and prevents undesired axial rotation of the combined ring and carrier combinationlli wherein the structure 15 stays put where desired.

An advantage of the second embodiment structure lies in the fact that only a single carrier 3|" need be used in connection with several different crowns.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An interchangeable crown cap construction, comprising: a frame; a crown detachably engageable with said frame; a stretcher ring detachably engageable with said crown; and a carrier permanently connected to said ring, and connecting diametrically opposed portions of said ring.

2. An interchangeable crown cap construction, comprising: a frame; a crown detachably engeable with said frame; a, stretcher ring detachably engageable with said crown; a carrier connected to said ring; and sweatproof identification means detachably connected to said carrier.

3. An interchangeable crown hat construction, comprising: a main band; a support element connected to said band and movable with respect thereto; a crown detachably connectable to said band; a stretcher ring in the upper portion of said crown; means detachably connecting said ring to said support element; and sweat proof identification means detachably connected to said crown on the inner surface thereof.

4. An interchangeable crown hat construction, comprising: a main band; a support member connected to said band at the forward portion thereof and movable with respect to said band; a crown detachably connectable to said band; a stretcher ring in the upper portion of said crown; means detachably connecting said ring to said support member; and sweat proof identification means detachably connected to said ring.

5. An interchangeable crown hat construction comprising'a main band; a support element movably disposed with relation to said main band; a crown detachably engageable with said band; a stretcher ring in the upper portion of said crown; and inwardly open hook means detachably connecting said ring and said support element, whereby said ring is free for inward movement.

6. An interchangeable crown hat construction comprising a. main band; a support element movably disposed with relation to said main band; a crown detachably engageable with said band; a stretcher ring in the upper portion of said crown; and means detachably connecting said ring and said support element, said means including an inverted hook secured to the upper portion of the support element, said ring being receivable within said hook.

'7. A cap construction comprising: a frame; a crown on said frame; a sweatproof identification means carrier connected to diametrically opposed edges of said crown and having a pair of oppositely disposed first and second pockets, the openings of which face each other; a sweatproof identification means comprising a base plate and a transparent plate on said base plate, said transparent plate being secured to said base plate at less than all of the edges of said transparent plate forming a third pocket; an identification card removably insertable into said third pocket; said sweatproof and identification means being resilient and having the ends thereof detachably insertable within the oppositely disposed pockets, by flexure of said sweatproof and identification means.

ABRAHAM I. JOSEPHS. 

